VolkswagenGolf SportWagen

Functionality Meets Personality in Volkswagen SportWagen: First Drive

Wagons are a unique part of the American automobile experience. In the '50s and '60s, the humble station wagon was a viable alternative to cross-country air travel. However, now that planes have become ubiquitous and air travel cheaper than it once was, the family station wagon has been excised from most of the American consciousness.
That means that most manufacturers have moved on to develop either urban-oriented compact utility vehicles, or sedans with a larger interior space. But Volkswagen, fortunately, still has a deep love for the unassuming family wagon and is bringing out an all-new version that will hopefully reignite the passion within the American populace.
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And this is it, the SportWagen. After the company first brought out the Passat wagon, then the Jetta wagon up until this year, Volkswagen is finally bringing a bit more room to everyone’s favorite hot hatch, the Golf. And for all Volkswagen’s troubles, wagon ownership has seen a small revival within the automotive enthusiast category. Wagons have developed a cult following, and VW’s newest Golf Sportwagen will definitely continue the trend.
As you first come up to the new SportWagen, you aren’t really struck by anything except that the entire car looks just like a slightly elongated Golf. And that’s a good thing since the new Golf is quite handsome. The wagon tail just adds to the overall drama of the car. It looks sleeker in profile, where...